Supersensitive fuse



STVHES CECIL Gr. YOUNG, OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY.

SUPERSENSITIVE FUSE.

Application filed June 4, 1919. Serial No. 301,794.

(FILED 'UNDER THE ACT 0F MARCH 3, 1883, 22 STAT. L., 625.)

To all whom t may concer/n,

Be it known that I, CECIL G. Yonne, 0rdnance Department, United States Army, a citizen of the United States, stationed at Frankford Arsenal, have invented an Improvement in Super-sensitive Fuses, of which the following is a specification.

The invention `described herein may be used by the Government, or any of its officers or employees in prosecution of work for the Government, or by any other person in the United States, without payment of any royalty thereon. A

The subject of this invention is a supersensitive fuse for explosive projectiles and like structures.

The main object of the invention is the provision of a fuse which will be h eld in safe position during handling and while the projectile is in, the bore of the gun, and which will be automatically released to armed position when the projectile leaves the bore.

The invention also contemplates the provision of means for equaliz'ing air pressure to retain the firing pin from contact with the primer during the flight of the projectile and after release of the fuse to armed position.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a gas check.

Another object of the invention is the provision of novel means for connecting the parts of the fuse.

These objects are accomplished by providing a firing pin holder connected for rectilinear sliding movement to the head of the projectile and carrying the firing pin, the holder being retained in unarmed position by suitable means, specifically, a split ring7 which is automatically released during flight of the projectile, and providing a gas check in conjunction with the firing pin.

Practical embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawing, where:-

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an explosive bullet equipped with a fuse constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal section of a modification of the fuse; and

Fig.,4 is a cross section taken on the line IV-XV of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference A projectile or explosive bullet is shown which comprises a hollow body or casing, l, open at one end and in which is loaded an eX- plosive charge, 2, the shell is counter-sunk at its forward or open end to form an annular shoulder upon which is seated a washer, 3, and the counter-sunk portion is threaded for the reception of a primer casing 4, in which is loaded the primer, 5, held in place in the casing by seating upon the washer, 3. The primer casing, 4, is provided with an aperture, 4a, to permit the firing pin to engage the primer.

An under cut portion, 6, is formed in the casing, 1, near its open end to provide an annular shoulder, 7, the purpose of which will shortly appear.v The end of the casing is angled off to form an outwardly diverging annular face, 8, 4upon which is seated a split ring, 9, the faces ofv which are vinclined to conform to the inclination of the face, 8.

A firing pin holder, 10, is reduced at its inner end and split to form iieXible prongs, 11, provided with outwardly projecting flanges, 12, at their inner ends, which prongs will contract as the holder is forced into place to permit the flanges, 12, to pass within the opening of the casing and spring into contact with the annular shoulder, 7, and thereby hold the ring pin holder firmly in position. The holder, 10, is formed with a recess, 13, at its forward end and at the bottom of the recess is a spider, 14, tapped to receive the threaded end of a firing pin, 15, which is held in position to enter the aperture, 4a, and engage the primer, 5.

In practice the projectile is fired from a gun in the usual way and the force due to setback will retain the ring, 9, in its normal position until the shell has passed from the muzzle of the gun. As soon as the shell is free from the gun acceleration of the shell ceases and the force due to set-back is relieved thereby allowing centrifugal force due to the rotation of the shell to act upon the split ring and open the same sufficiently to allow it to be thrown from the shell, thereby releasing the firing pin holder to armed position. After the split ring has been removed from the shell and during the subsequent flight of the shell, air will enter the chamber formed at the forward Vend of the shell and behind the firing pin holder through the recess in the spider, let, and also through the space formerly occupied by the ring, 9, and the slots formed in the reduced portion, l1, o1"Y the holder. This air in the chamber will prevent rearward movement oli the holder, l0, due to head pressure as it will equalize the pressure upon the holder.

pon impact the holder, l0, will be 'forced rearwardly causing the firing pin, l5, to come into violent engagement with the primer, 5, thereby exploding said primer, which explosion will be communicated through the opening in the washer, 8, to the main charge, 2, in the shell, l. i

In the modified form shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the general structure is substantially the same. as that heretofore described with the exception that the primer casing, 4', is slidable into the shell, l', and is held in place therein by a head, 16, the rear end ot which head is reduced and threaded to engage with the forward or open end oi' shell, l. f

The head, 16, is provided in its forward face with an annular groove, l, which is adapted to receive a tubular portion or guide, ll, which is vformed integral with and extends rearwardly from the liring pin holder, l.

A split ring, 9, is interposed between the beveled shoulder of the holder, lO, and a beveled edge of the head, 16, for the pur- `beveled endV of the casing the casing and in pose of normally retaining the holder in an armed position. T he holder, 10, carries a firing pin, which extends through an opening, 19, Yformed Centrally of the head, '1.6, and whichrprojeots into a chamber, V1,8, likewise 'formed in the head, lo. A collar, 15, enrireles the pin, l, withinl the ehanxh'er, 1S, and serves to hold the ,firing pin holder in position and also, when the fuse is fired, arts as a Cheek to prevent forward discharge oi the gases due to'explosion, thereby insuring the passage of exploded gases of the primer rearwardly to ignite the main charge, 2..

Having 'fully described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A fuse, including a Casing formed with a beveled end, a firing pin holder connected for rectilinear sliding Vmovement to the l D, a pin carried by the holder, a split ring seated on the beveled end and normally retaining the vfiring pin holder in unarmed position, and ya primer in Y position to be engaged by the tiring pin. e

2, A fuse, including a casing formed with i an inclined seat, a firing pin holder having a shoulder inclined to conform to the inclination of the seat connected for rectilinear sliding movement to the casing, a split ring interposed between the holder and the casing and engaging the seat, said ring adapted to retain the pm holder in unarmed position, a pin Carried by the holder', and a primer adapted to be engaged by the ain.

CECIL YOUNG. 

